IEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 29, NO. 1, JANUARYIFEBRUARY 1983 19s All Amperes Are Not Created Equal: A Comparison of Current Ratings of High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated According to ANSI and IEC Standards Baldwin Bridger, Jr., Fellow, IEEE Abstract—The internationalization of the electrical power ‘equipment market has required engineers to apply equipment designed and built to unfamiliar standards. For high-voltage circuit breakers, the two best-known standards are the ANSI fand the IEC standards. Since ratings with similar names have different meanings in the two series of standards, it is vital that application engineers understand the differences. This paper ‘examines the continuous current, interrupting, short-time, and closing current ratings and compares these ratings in the two series of standards. INTRODUCTION HERE ARE TWO well-known systems of standards used to describe the rating and testing of high-voltage (includ- ing medium-voltage) circuit breakers. The first set of standards, is that issued by the American National Standards Institute {ANSI and generally used in North America [1]-{3]. The second set is that issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and generally used in Europe {4}, [5]. Other parts of the world may use either or both of these sets of standards. The purpose of these standards is to establish definitions, test procedures, and rating structures to allow the ‘comparison of one circuit breaker with another on an equitable basis. Inaddition to the rating and testing standards, the ANSI C37 series of standards includes several standards [6}-{8] designed to help an application engineer choose the proper rating of circuit breaker for the particular set of system conditions likely {o be encountered at the installation site in question. These conditions may vary from the standard conditions upon which the rating and testing standards are based. ‘The electrical power equipment business is becoming increasingly intemationalized, with both equipment suppliers and users operating on a worldwide basis. Because of this, application engineers familiar with one of these two sets of circuit breaker standards may find themselves required to apply cireuit breakers rated and tested according to the other set of standards. Of course, it is possible for a circuit breaker manufacturer to test a breaker to both sets of standards and establish pproved by the Powter Systems Protection Commit wiry Applications Society for presentation at the 1991 Industrial and Commercial Power Systems Conference, Memphis, TN, May (69, Manisrit released for publication April 29, 1992 ‘The author is with Powell Electrical Manufacturing Co., Houston, TX mu. ie Log Number 9204194, ratings in both the ANSI and the IEC systems, but this is unlikely to happen for at least two reasons. First, the required testing is very expensive. Since both the ANSI and the IEC standards require testing to demonstrate conformity ‘with assigned ratings, there is no good way to use a single set of tests to demonstrate ratings that conform with both sets of standards. The testing of a single rating of medium- voltage circuit breaker (of the type used in 15-kV metal-clad switchgear) can cost upwards of $50 000 or even more if the ‘manufacturer has to purchase test laboratory services for all of the required testing. Regardless of which set of standards is used for the original testing, most manufacturers find it difficult to justify the added expense of a second round of testing. The second reason is that a design that is optimized for the rating structure of one set of standards is seldom optimal for the other set, leading to a reduction in ratings when moving from cone set of requirements to the other. ‘There are differences between the two sets of standards in the definitions of various ratings. These differences, if not ‘understood by the application engineer, can lead to errors in the application of circuit breakers. This paper will examine the various current ratings assigned to high-voltage circuit breakers, including continuous current, short-circuit current, short-time current, and closing current, comparing the ANSI and IEC rating methods and suggesting ways of converting circuit breaker ratings from one system to the other. The effects of dc offset, voltage range factors, and interrupting time on the ig structures will also be examined. ConTINVOUS CURRENT Both ANSI/IEEE C37.04 [1] (in Section 5.4) and IEC 694 5] (in Section 4.4.1) define the continuous current rating of a circuit breaker as the rms current the breaker can carry continuously without exceeding certain temperature rise limi- tations. Both standards base the limiting temperature rises on ‘a maximum ambient of 40° C. Each standard includes tables of allowable temperature rise for various parts of a circuit breaker, and these values of allowable temperature rise are different in the two standards. Allowable Temperature Rise ‘Table [lists a number of the parts of circuit breakers and the allowable temperature rises under the two standards. It can be seen from this table that the IEC standard is less stringent than the ANSI standard in several areas. A point-by-point (0093.9994/93803.00 © 1993 IEEE196 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 29, NO. 1, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 193 TABLE 1 SELECTED TEMPERATURE RISE VALUES “Allowable Temperature ‘Creuit Breaker Component ue ANSI) IEC) ‘Contes, silver or silver plated, in se oe oC Connections, sive orsiver plated, in sir 65°C TSC Insulating material and metal pars in ‘contact with insolation Class A sec | orc Class B wc mC NOTES: (1) Refer to ANSVIEEE C37.04 [1], Tables 2,3, and 4: 2) Refer to IEC 694 [5], Table V. comparison of the test results with either standard would be necessary to determine whether or not a circuit breaker meets the temperature rise requirements of that standard. Effect of an Enclosure Section 4.4.1(2) of ANSV/IEEE C37.09 requires enclosed breakers to be tested in their enclosures. In North American practice, breakers designed for use in enclosures are seldom if ever used without enclosures. Section 6.3.2 of IEC 694 requires the circuit breaker to be mounted in all significant respects as in service, including all normal covers of any part of the switching device. Since, however, European practice may involve the use of the same circuit breaker in both open and enclosed installations, it is common practice to test and rate the circuit breaker without an enclosure. The nameplate continuous current rating may be for open-air application. It ‘may be necessary to derate the circuit breaker for enclosed use. No general rule for derating can be given; the manufacturer needs to be consulted in each case. Effect of Frequency Section 5.3 of ANSIMEEE 37.04 specifies a rated fre- ‘quency of 60 Hz for circuit breakers. Section 4.3 of IEC 694 specifies a rated frequency of either 50 or 60 Hz. Section 5.4 of ANSIMIEEE C37.04 states that the rated continuous current is at the rated frequency. Section 6,3.2 of IEC 694 calls for continuous current tests to be made at rated frequency with a tolerance of +2% and —5%. Section 4.3 of ANSI/IEEE €37.09 [3] states “Tests demonstrating current carrying ability which are not made at rated frequency may need correction factors because the heat released varies with the frequency of the current, the relation depending on de resistance, skin effects, eddy currents, and hysteresis losses.” No guidance is xziven for making these corrections, but itis known that higher frequencies cause higher heat losses. Therefore, a continuous current carrying test made at 50 Hz may give temperature rise results that are less than would be experienced if the same apparatus were tested at 60 Hz. Since the standards give no mathematical model for correcting these test results, the continuous current test should be made at the highest frequency at which the circuit breaker will be applied. Fig 1. Shor circitcurem wave. {ihr} isthe envelope of curet wave, BX is the normal zero line, CC" the displacement of current Wane ‘eo line a any instant, DD i the ms valu ofthe ae component of cue ft any instant, measured from CC, Eis the iasant of contact separion Gian ofthe a) yi the aking cue, I the peak vale ¢ component of current at nstnt EE", "SE isthe rms vale ofthe a ‘component at instant EE’, Ips the de Zompones EE" and 1092510 is he percentage vale o of curent at instant ‘de component ‘Shorr CiRcUrT CURRENT ‘The short circuit current a circuit breaker can interrupt is probably its most important single rating. The current that determines this rating is the current at the moment of contact separation, Before examining the standards to see how this current is defined in each of the two standards systems, let review the basics of short circuit current wave forms Review of Basics Fig. 1, which is taken from Fig. 8 of IEC 56 [4], shows typical short circuit current waveform and defines the v ‘component parts of this wave. At the moment of init ‘of a short circuit, the ac current wave, which is ni symmetrical about the zero axis (BX in Fig. 1), is offset some value, creating a waveform that is symmetrical another axis (CC’ in Fig. 1). The degree of asymmetry is function of several variables, including the parameters of power system up to the point of the short circuit and the pot fon the ac wave at which the short circuit was initiated. In three-phase circuit, there is usually one phase that is off significantly more than the other two phases. It is convenient to analyze this asymmetrical waveform consisting of a symmetrical ac wave superimposed on a current. In Fig. 1, CC’ represents the de current, and the val fof that current at any instant is represented by the ordi of CC’, The de component of the current normally dec quite rapidly and reaches an insignificant value within 0.1 in most power systems. The rate of de system parameters. When the initial value of the de current equal to the initial peak value of the ac current, the result waveform is said to be fully offset or to have a 100% component. It is possible, in some power systems, to have: offset in excess of 100%, which may result in a waveform hhas no current zeros for one or more cycles of th frequency.[RIDGER: ALL. AMPERES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL "The ac component of the short circuit current will also decay at arate dependant on the system parameters. In general, ifthe fault is closer to generators or other large rotating machinery, the decay will be faster. Short Cireuit Current Rating “The ANSI definition of rated short-cireuit current is found in [ANSV/IEEE 37.04. Per Section 5.10.1 of this standard, “The rated short-circuit current of a circuit breaker is the highest value of the symmetrical component of the polyphase or phase- o-phase short-circuit current in rms amperes measured from the envelope of the current wave at the instant of primary ‘arcing contact separation which the circuit breaker shall be required to interrupt at rated maximum voltage and on the standard operating duty.” This rated short-circuit current is the value from which the required symmetrical and asymmetrical interrupting capabilities are derived ‘The IEC definition of rated short-circuit current is found in Section 4.101 of IEC 56, which reads, in part, as follows: The rated short-circuit breaking current is characterized by wo values: 1. the rms value of its ac component, termed “rated short- circuit current” for shortness, and 2. the percentage de component.” From these two definitions, the rated short-circuit current js seen to be defined as an rms ac current in both sets of standards, However, the rated short-circuit current does not define the current the circuit breaker is required to interrupt. That value is further defined as follows. In Section 5.10.2.1 of ANSV/IEEE C37.04, the required symmetrical interrupting capability at rated maximum voltage js defined as being the same as the rated short-circuit current. ‘There is a variation with voltage, which is discussed further Jater in this paper. In Section 5.10.2.2, the required asymmetri- cal interrupting capability is defined as being the highest value of the total short-circuit current rms amperes, which includes the rated short-circuit current plus a de component. Section 4.101 of IEC 56 goes on to state that “The circuit breaker shall be capable of breaking any short-circuit current Upto ils rated short-circuit breaking current containing any a¢ component up to the rated value and associated with it any peroentage de component up to that specified...” ‘This, of course, is an asymmetrical current, Note also that there is a subtle difference in definition between two very similar terms. The “rated short-circuit current” is only the ac ‘component of the asymmetrical “rated short-circuit breaking current.” Assigning a Value to the de Component Both sets of standards recognize the rapid decay of the ‘de component of the short-circuit current and therefore base their value on the expected time from the initiation of the fault to contact parting. Both standards add one half of a cycle of relaying time to the expected operating time of the tircuit breaker to determine the contact parting time. From point, however, the method of determining the value of the de ‘component varies between the two sets of standards, acemmern opine one. BO" A ‘SMTA, MTERLTNS ‘Spas sr"srecneo, Seems Vou = 10 ah The Sls Ry RY RA a ee ‘RT BRAN EOTACT aI TE ou oi ong BESS Beaae “me ME Ratio of circuit breaker asymmetrical to symmetrical iterupting ‘capabilites. Fig. 2. Section 5.10.2.2 of ANSV/IEEE 37.04 specifies that the required asymmetrical interrupting capability shall be the required symmetrical interrupting capability multiplied by a factor S, which is determined from Fig. 2 of that standard, which is reproduced as Fig. 2 of this paper. “The ANSI standard is further complicated by the requit rent that the contact parting time be considered as the sum of the one-half cycle relay delay plus the lesser of the actual opening time of the particular circuit breaker or 1.0, 1.5,2.5,0F 3.5 cycles for breakers having a rated interrupting time of 2, 3, 5, or 8 cycles, respectively. In many instances, this will require ‘using a contact parting time less than the actual contact parting time of the circuit breaker. In addition, note that the times are all given in cycles, which must be related to the 60-Hz rated frequency of the circuit breaker under ANSI standards. For purposes of comparison with the IEC standards, which tive times in milliseconds, these times should be converted to milliseconds. ANSI standards also require a certain percentage asymmetry in various test duties of Table 1 of ANSI/IEEE C37.09. Some test duties require a percentage asymmetry of less than 20, ‘but many of the tests require a percentage asymmetry of 50 to 100. Percentage asymmetry is defined as a percent- ‘age of the peak value of the ac symmetrical component, ‘which makes it equivalent to the percentage de used in IEC 56. “The TEC standard is somewhat simpler. The rated short circuit breaking current includes a de component whose value is determined by reference to Fig. 8 of IEC 56, which is reproduced here as Fig. 3 of this paper. ‘Section 4.101.2 of IEC 56 requires the de component of the short-circuit breaking current to be determined using a value of ‘equal to the sum of the one-half-cycle relaying time and the shortest opening time of the circuit breaker obtainable under any service conditions.198 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 29, NO. 1, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 193 109, 90 0] 70 0 50 40 30 20 1 % i 230 4050 0 70 8090 Time interval from initiation of short-circuit current 7 (ms) Fig. 3 Percentage 3. ¢. component Percentage de component in relation to time interval r Asymmetrical Value of Test Current The rms value of the asymmetrical current J existing at the ‘moment of contact part may be calculated as follows (from Fig. 9 of ANSI/IEEE 37.09) a where I4c and Ipe are as defined in Fig. 1 of this paper. Per Section 5.10.2.2 of ANSV/IEEE C37.04, the asymmet- rical current at the moment of contact part may consist of any combination of symmetrical and de components, provided the symmetrical component does not exceed the required symmetrical interrupting capability, the degree of asymmetry does not exceed 100%, and the total short-circuit current does not exceed the required asymmetrical interrupting capability. Since the IEC test procedure involves separate specification of the ac and de components, (1) may be rewritten as follows, using the definition of percentage de given in Fig. 1 of this paper: ies (By (See " @ Pa f Cael (%): +(lac}? @ T=Ihoy3+ (y. ® If the value of the ac component is stated in rms terms, this equation becomes Sede)? apie2s (FE) This is a convenient form for calculating the rated short- circuit breaking current for a given rated short-circuit current. © Voltage Range Factor K ‘The ANSI standards include a rated voltage range factor K, which is defined in Section 5.2 of ANSVIEEE C37.04. The effect of this K factor is to establish voltage range in which the breaker’s interrupting capabilities are a constant value of MVA, with current increasing proportionally as voltage decreases. The numerical values of K are established in the rating tables of ANSI C37.06 [2]. In the latest (1987) edition of this standard, all outdoor circuit breakers, including circuit breakers used in gas-insulated substations, have a rated voltage range factor of 1. These circuit breakers are listed in Tables I and Ill. Indoor oilless circuit breakers, which are ‘commonly used in metal-clad switchgear, are listed in Table L. These have assigned rated voltage range factors varying from 1.0 to 1,65, depending on the rating of the circuit breaker, Section 4.101 of IEC 56 states that a standard circuit breaker will be capable of breaking its rated short-circuit breaking current at voltages below the rated voltage. The TEC standards do not include a concept similar to the voltage range factor, although a footnote in Section 4.101 of IEC 56 allows breakers with proven short-circuit breaking currents at two different voltages to assign intermediate characteristics based on a straight line drawn between these two points on a log-log display. This gives results within a few percent of those obiained using the formula found in Section 5.10.2.1 of ANSVIEEE 37.04. Two things need to be said about the K° factor. First, the concept agrees with the physical reality of oil-blast and air magnetic circuit breakers. Breakers using these technologies really do have higher interrupting ability at lower voltages, and assigning a K factor other than one allows a wider ap- plication of a given circuit breaker. However, circuit breakers using vacuum or SF puffer interrupters are essentially con- stant current interrupters up to a limiting maximum voltage; therefore, a K factor other than one does not match the physical attributes of circuit breakers using these technolo- ies. Second, for a known system voltage, the K factor is unimportant. On any given system, if the voltage decreases, the available short circuit current will also decrease and ‘not increase. If a circuit breaker is properly applied at the maximum system voltage, it will have the necessary short circuit capability for any lower voltage on that system. Standard Operating Duty ‘The ability of a circuit breaker to interrupt its rated short circuit current is a function of how often required to make this interruption. The time between operations is important in that it gives the circuit breaker time to cool between interruptions. Both sets of standards specify stan- dard operating duties to fix this variable. The values given below are for circuit breakers not intended for reclosing duty. Section 5.6 of ANSIIEEE 37.04 specifies the standand operating duty as two close-open operations with a 15 interval between them or CO—I5 s—CO.BRIDGER: ALL AMPERES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL Section 4.104 of IEC 56 gives two altemative rated oper- ating sequences. The first is O—3 min—CO—3 min—CO. The second is CO—15 s—CO, which the same as the ANSI requirement. The O—3 min—CO—3 min—CO duty cycle is ‘more commonly used in Europe. Test Duties Both sets of standards list several test duties that must be performed to demonstrate the ability of a circuit breaker to ‘meet its short-circuit ratings. The ANSI requirements are listed in Table 1 of ANSV/IEEE C37.09. The IEC requirements are shown in IEC 56, Section 6.106 covers basic short circuit du- ties, whereas Sections 6.107 and 6.108 cover more specialized test duties. Both test series require testing at the rated short-circuit current that is both symmetrical and asymmetrical. Both series require tests at currents ranging from about 10 to about 60% of the rated short-circuit current, and both tests require single-phase tests as well as three-phase tests. Beyond the basic requirements, however, there are many differences. Duty cycles may vary, as does the degree of asymmetry required for tests at less than full short-circuit rating. Variations in wansient recovery voltage requirements and in require- ments for the condition of the circuit breaker after test- ing make it very difficult to make an exact comparison of the severity of tests made under the two different sys- tems. Example To compare the two sets of interrupting requirements, let us consider a circuit breaker with a rated short-circuit current of 25 KA, a rated voltage range factor KC of |, a rated interrupting time of 5 cycles (83 ms), and an actual opening time of $0 ms. Both ANSI and TEC standards require symmetrical inter- mupting tests at rated short-circuit current. See test duty 4 in Table 1 of ANSIMEEE C37.09 and test duty 4 of Section 6.1064 of IEC 56. In accordance with Section 5.10,2.2 of ANSVIEEE C37.04, a breaker with a rated interrupting time of 5 cycles is assumed to have a contact parting time of 3.0 cycles. From Fig. 2, this breaker is assigned an S factor of 1.1. The highest asymmetrical currents required by Table 1 of ANSIMEEE. 37.09 are SI in test duty 6 and KSI in test duty 7. (I is the rated short-circuit current, which is equivalent t0 Im (5).) Asymmetry of 50 to 100% is also specified for these two tests, Since our example has a rated K of 1, SI = KSI. To meet the ANSI test requirements, this circuit breaker would be required to interrupt a maximum short-circuit current of SI, oF 1.1 Irma, with a minimum asymmetry of 50%. This gives us the following: 1134 Ieme I 1 =27.5KA. 1.1425 kA Substituting in (5), we get tm SY ey Ee BB KA= Irma r 27.5 KA = Tra yf 1 +2 (5)? 275 KA = Irma $5 To EBA Tema = 22.45 kA. From this, it can be seen that the ANSI asymmetrical test requirements for this circuit breaker rated 25 kA can be satisfied with a test current of 22.45 kA rms plus a de component of 50% or 15.87 KA. Other currents could be used, provided the combination of ac and de components meet the overall specification for total rms current. Using TEC test procedures, the circuit breaker would be called on to interrupt its rated Tpms plus a de component. Since the opening time of the circuit breaker is 50 ms, and the one-half-cycle relaying time is 8.33 ms, r is 58.33 ms. Referring to Fig. 3, we see that the required de component is approximately 25%. From (5), we get ‘Sac? aa) Ts bewa 1424 3 1=25kA 1426 (F) 100 1 = 25 KAY 1 +2 (.25)” 1=25kAVTF 1125 1 = 26.52 kA. From this, its seen that an IEC test using an ae component of 25 kA and the required percentage de of 25% calls on the circuit breaker to interrupt a total current of only 96.4% of the current requited by the ANSI test. To meet the ANSI requirements for total asymmetrical current would require a minimum de component of 32.4%. Referring to Fig. 3, we find that this value corresponds to a contact parting time of 50 ‘ms, which is exactly the contact parting time assigned to our breaker under the ANSI standards Summary of Short Circuit Current Considerations Both ANSI and IEC standards define rated short circuit current in terms of the rms symmetrical value of an ac current. ‘The definitions are the same, and the ratings are directly comparable. Both ANSI and IEC standards require asymmetrical interrupting capability. The requirements differ. In general, the ANSI standards require higher total current than the IEC standards, at least partly because the ANSI standards require assignment of an artificially short opening time to most circ breakers.20 IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS, VOL. 29, NO. 1, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 198 The standard operating duty differs between the two stan- dards, ANSI/MIEEE C37.04 defines the standard operating duty as CO—15 s—CO. This is one of two standards listed in IEC 56, but breakers tested to IEC standards more commonly use the other cycle O—3 min—CO—3 min—CO. The exact requirements of individual test duties differ between the two standards in such areas as the percentage asymmetry for a particular test current level, transient recovery voltage, etc Because of these factors, it is extremely difficult to make a direct comparison of the severity of the tests required by the two sets of standards. SHORT TIME CURRENT Section 5.10.2.5 of ANSI/IEEE C37.04 defines the short- time current as any short-circuit current whose maximum crest value does not exceed 2.7K times the rated short circuit current and whose rms value over the required test period does not exceed K times rated short-circuit current. The circuit breaker is required to carry this current for a period of 3s. Section 4.5 of IEC 694 defines the rated short-time with- stand current as the rms value of the current a mechanical switching device can carry in the closed position during a specified short time, Section 4.6 requires this current to have a peak value of 2.5 times the rated short-time withstand current. ‘Section 4.7 gives the standard rated duration of the short-time current as 1s but also says that if a time greater than 1 is necessary, a value of 3 s is recommended. Section 4.5 of TEC 56 requires the rated short-time withstand current to be equal to the rated short-circuit breaking current, which is the asymmetrical shor-circuit current. This would seem to imply that the current over the time period should have an integrated value equal to the asymmetrical value of the breaking current, but a careful reading of Section 6.5.2 of IEC 694, which specifies the test current, shows that the required current is the same as that required by the ANSI standard, Ignoring the K factor, the two differences between the standards are the difference in the peak current required and the duration of the current flow. The peak current is required by ANSI to be 2.7 times the rated short-circuit current, but IEC only requires 2.5 times this current. The duration of current flow is specified as 3 s by ANSI but only 1 s by IEC. CLOSING CURRENT Section 5.10.2.4 of ANSVIEEE C37.04 requires that a circuit breaker close and, immediately thereafter, latch against ‘a current whose peak value does not exceed 2.7K times the rated short-circuit current. It must then carry a current equal to K times the rated short-circuit current for atime delay of 2 s and then interrupt this current. This capability is proved by ‘Test Duty 11 of Table 1 of ANSV/IEEE C37.09. ‘As a matter of interest, it should be noted that the value of this closing and latching current, as given in Tables 1-3 of ANSI C37.06-1987 [2], is stated in peak kiloamps and is equal to 2.7K times the rated short-circuit current. In earlier editions of ANSI C37.06, this value was stated in rms terms and was equal to 1.6K times the rated short-circuit current. ‘The two values are equivalent, and the actual performance of the circuit breaker was not required to change. Section 4.103 of IEC 56 defines the rated short-circuit- making current as the peak current of the first. major loop of the short-circuit current and requires it to be 2.5 times the rms value of the ac component of the rated short-circuit breaking current. The ability to close against this current is tested by Test Duty No. 4, as described in Section 6,106.4 of TEC 56. This test duty also includes full short-circuit current interruption. There is no requirement similar to the ANSI requirement for latching and carrying a current for 2 s before interrupting. Concusions Rating and testing of high-voltage circuit breakers are very complex procedures, and this paper merely scratches the surface by looking at some of the basic current ratings and the tests required to demonstrate these ratings. Similar analysis could be done on voltage ratings, specialized current ratings such as capacitor switching, and other required ratings of circuit breakers. In the areas examined, we find that similar terms do not necessarily mean the same thing in ANSI and TEC standards. In many cases, it is difficult to relate the two standards to each other because the differences are not easily compared: or quantified. As a general statement, however, it seems that the ANSI standards require more stringent performance of @ circuit breaker for equivalent ratings. Some examples include the following: 1, Continuous Current: Several of the allowable tempera- ture rise limits in the ANSI standard are lower by 5 or 10° C than the comparable limits in the IEC standard. If the circuit breaker is applied in an enclosure, its enclosed rating should be verified. In addition, if the continuous current test is run at 5 Hz rather than 60 Hz, the resulting temperature rise may be lower. Short Circuit Current: For asymmetrical interrupting tests, the degree of asymmetry and the total short-circuit breaking current may be lower under the IEC standards than under the ANSI standards. In addition, it appears that the ANSI standard operating duty of CO—15 s—CO is more severe than the commonly-used TEC standard operating duty of O—3 min—CO—3 min—CO, 3. Short Time Current: The ANSI requirement of a test duration of 3 s is much more severe than the standard TEC test duration of 1 s, and the ANSI requirement fora Peak current of 2.7 times the rated short-circuit currents more severe than the IEC requirement for a peak current of 2.5 times the rated short-circuit current. 4. Closing Current: The ANSI requirement for latching against the rated closing current, carrying rated short circuit current for 2 s, and then interrupting that current is not present in the IEC standards. In addition, the same: difference exists in the ratio of peak current to rated short-circuit current as in the short-time current rating Any engineer who is responsible for applying a high-voltage cireuit breaker rated and tested in accordance with unfa[BRIDGER: ALL. AMPERES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL standards should study those standards to understand exactly ‘what the ratings mean in terms of actual performance of the circuit breaker. Since most breaker applications are not made atthe limit of the breaker’s ratings, it should be possible to find a circuit breaker that will fit the application regardless ‘of the set of standards with which it complies. A little care exercised at the start of a project will pay dividends at the end. REFERENCES [I] 1EEE Standard Rating Structure for ac High-Voltage Cireult Breakers ‘Rated on a Symmetrical Current Basis, ANSVIEEE Std. C37.04-1979, IEEE Product no. SHOG288 {2 American National Standard for Switchgear—ac High-Voltage Cireit Breakers Roted on a Symmetrical Current Basis—Preerred Ratings and Related Required Capabilities, ANSI Std, C37.06-1987, Amer. Nat, ‘ids, Inst. Ine, New York. [3] IEEE Standard Test Procedure for ac High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated on a Symmetrical Current Bass, ANSVIEEE Std. C37.09-1979, TEE Product No, SHO6312, 2 [4] High-Voltage Altenating-Current Circuit-Breakers, IEC Sid. 56, Int Electrotech. Comm., Geneva, th ed, 1987. {8} Common Clauses for High-Voltage Switchgear and Control Gear Stan- ands TEC Sid 694, Int. Electrotech. Comm, Geneva, sted, 1980, [6] TEEE Application Guide for AC High-Voliage Circuit Breakers Rated (ona Symmetrical Current Basis, ANSUIEEE Std. C37.010-1979, IEEE Product No. SHO6569. (7) IEEE Application Guide for Transient Recovery Voltage for AC High Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated on a Symmetrical Current Bass, ANSVIEEE Sid. C37.011-1979, IEEE Product No. SHO700S, [8] IEEE Application Guide for Capacitance Current Switching for AC High-Voltage Circuit Breakers Rated on a Symmetrical Current Basis, [ANSVIEEE Std, C37.012-1979, IEEE Product No. SHO69S7, Baldwin Bridger, Jr. (M'S0-SM'S9-F'88), For photgraph and biography please sce the Officers in the Industry Applications Society seston of this fssue on page 2.